The sentences of a gang who falsely imprisoned and tortured a student have been increased at the Court of Appeal.

The four were jailed after they tied up Benjamin Hutchings-Mitchell, gagged him and beat him with a hammer in an attempt to make him hand over money.

The 21-year-old was lured to a house in Hastings, East Sussex, in September last year and tortured before being taken to woods in Battle in a body bag.

There, he was assaulted again and the men discussed burying him alive.

By the time he was released after being held for three hours, Mr Hutchings-Mitchell, who was a student at Brighton University living in Hastings at the time of the attack, had suffered multiple injuries.

The men were originally sentenced by Mr Recorder Enoch QC at Hove Crown Court in April.

The trial heard that the ringleader was Sam Simon, a friend of Mr Hutchings-Mitchell.